Renters and owners both need a safe home. Learn more about home security before deciding what kind of system you want to invest in. Make sure you save this article after you are done so that you can keep referring it throughout your decision making process.
Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.
TIP! It is crucial that you change the locks as soon as you move into a new residence. You don’t know the exact number of copies of that key the previous owners have or have handed out.
Use a safe to protect your valuables. This will help to keep your jewelry and other valuables secured in the event of a break in. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.
If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. This is very important, as you do not want your gold, diamonds and personal items exposed if someone were to break into your house. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.
TIP! Use a safe to protect your valuables. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see.
Check around for prices, reputation, and reliability when choosing a home security provider. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.
A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. Try hiding your key somewhere more unique, like your outside dog’s collar.
TIP! If you like to have a key hidden in case you lose yours, place it in a safe place. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there.
Spare Key
Be sure your roof, floors, and ceiling are fire resistant. This adds more protection to a house, especially if you’re in a dry area with some power lines. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.
TIP! It is important to invest in building supplies that are as fire resistant as possible. This give your home an extra protection layer.
Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Avoid cliched hiding places like over the door frame or beneath the doormat. Experienced criminals will check these places immediately. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.
If you’ve got lots of people you don’t know on your social networks, don’t let them know that you’re going to be on vacation. It’s exciting going to new places and enjoying your time, but you could alert thieves to an empty home that they can easily break into.
TIP! Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.
Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!
Don’t let people into your house that you don’t know. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.
TIP! Don’t let people into your house that you don’t know. While their story may seem legit, that doesn’t mean it is true.
If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. A ringing phone that goes unanswered may signal to a burglar that nobody is home.
The police department in your area may offer a home protection program. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Contact your local police department to find out if they offer this type of program.
TIP! Determine what sort of home protection services or programs the local police department has to offer. Home inspections or engraving identifiers can help protect you.
Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.
A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.
TIP! Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in.
If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. Having the car in the garage will prevent it from getting broken into or stolen. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.
The wires that are on your house are very valuable. This is something few homeowners realize until they become victims of wiring theft. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. Make sure your wiring is hidden or hard to access to keep this valuable property safe.
TIP! Do you know how valuable the wires within your home are? Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! This is why the wiring should be hidden or difficult to get to.
If your door is set in a rotted frame, you must replace the frame. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.
Get some professional assistance by asking a home security company to come to your house and work up a plan for a customized security system. Each situation is different. By locating the company that will create the best plan for you, you will be assured you are receiving the best possible home security.
TIP! Get some professional assistance by asking a home security company to come to your house and work up a plan for a customized security system. Every house and every family will produce a unique set of security concerns that are best addressed with tailor-made security arrangements.
Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. Flashlights are important for letting you navigate your home in the dark. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.
Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home. Some individuals are more comfortable with a canine alarm, while other people enjoy the feeling of security that a sophisticated alarm system can bring. Make sure you understand your risks so you can make wise purchasing decisions.
TIP! Consider all of your individual security needs before looking into any alarm systems. A home security system is a good idea; however, it is not the perfect solution for every home.
Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. They should take your concerns seriously and address any issues you have. If you have found a company that could cater to your needs, then it is easy to get the security that will make you and your loved ones comfortable.
If you will be going out of time, have someone you trust get your mail. Also, have them look for fliers stuck in your door. Sometimes burglars leave fliers in an attempt to see if anyone is home to remove them. If the fliers isn’t removed, the criminal knows that no one is home.
TIP! When you are away on vacation have a house sitter bring in your mail and any flyers and newspapers that accumulate in front of your house. Burglars have been known to put these up, waiting to see if they are removed or not.
If you are out of town for awhile, ask a friend to take a look at your door for any fliers. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. If their fliers are not moved, the crook knows the home is unattended.
A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. They generally bark when someone comes close to their property. You will get good results even if you do not have a large or vicious dog. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.
TIP! Dogs make a great security system. Dogs can be extremely protective of their space and are great at barking when something is afoot.
Dogs make a great security system. They are protective about their territory, plus they make noises that keep burglars at bay. Your dog doesn’t have to be a big, burly attack dog. Even the barking of a tiny dog can repel potential burglars, who want to avoid noises as they carry out their crimes.
Do not use spring latch locks. Just one credit card can get a burglar access to your home. The card is slid into the crevice between the latch and the door, pushing the latch back and springing the lock open. If your locks are spring latch, either replace them or put in a deadbolt to protect yourself.
TIP! Steer clear of locks with spring latches. These locks can easily be picked within a couple of minutes.
Spring Latch Locks
Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. This makes it easy for you because you do not have to turn the switch. It also makes the lights go off and on even if you are not at home.
TIP! Program your lights to turn on and off at random intervals with a timer. A timer will prevent the need of flipping the switch.
Don’t utilize spring latch locks. They give intruders and easy time breaking in, since they can be unlocked with a credit card. A thief only needs to skip the credit card in between the lock to make it open. If you have already installed spring latch locks, consider adding a deadbolt for even more security.
It is not enough to buy an alarm for your home. It needs to connect with the police if a burglar sets it off. The best bet is to invest in an alarm which is centrally monitored so you can be sure that any time it goes off, the police will show up. Neighbors won’t always be home to call.
TIP! A home security system can be really nice, but it’s only completely effective if someone notifies the police. The best bet is to invest in an alarm which is centrally monitored so you can be sure that any time it goes off, the police will show up.
Keep curtains closed when you aren’t at home. Intruders can see into your home if they are left up. They may break in if they see things they like. At night when you’re asleep, you should close your shades.
Women are more likely than men to be a target for burglary. This is especially true if they live on their own with children. Place something masculine in the front of your home to give off a tough impression. Burglars should pass on by.
TIP! Women are often the target of a home break-in, especially if it is apparent they live alone or with children. One way to throw off would-be assailants is to put a large pair of muddy boots on the front porch, to suggest the presence of a big man.
Avoid keeping your key somewhere expected. Fake rocks are easy to spot. Someone is going to look under your doormat. Talk to a neighbor or someone that you know to hold your key. If you can’t do that, you must think creatively to find a good place to keep a spare key.
Indoor locks are nice, but outdoor locks are better. The best lock of choice is always a deadbolt, and those which have keys on both inside and out ensure they can’t be opened by a burglar.
TIP! When it comes to locks, remember that you have to be able to lock it from both the inside and outside for maximum security. The best lock is a deadbolt and those that have keys for the inside and outside can prevent burglars from opening them.
Keep valuables that are irreplaceable secure. Items such as family photos, passports, legal documents, expensive jewelry and financial records need to be placed at a secure location. A fireproof floor safe is ideal for this. Or, a better idea, is to place them in a deposit box outside of your home.
External wiring is a simple target for burglars and thieves. Copper wiring is worth a lot today. Therefore, you should keep your wires concealed so that thieves are not able to strip away the copper, resulting in you spending a lot on repair costs.
TIP! Intruders might be interested in the wiring of your home. Cooper, commonly found in electric wiring and components, has the potential to be sold for lots of money.
Put in a door that is solid wood or metal. These doors hold really good. This makes it much more difficult for a burglar to kick in the door and break in. It is easy and affordable to replace all of your home’s exterior doors, so ensure you do this immediately.
Burglars hate video security systems. You may see burglars in movies wearing masks, but that is fiction. Home burglars usually do not cover their face to avoid arousing suspicion. When the video camera is spotted, they’ll head for the hills.
TIP! Surveillance systems are your best bet for home security. Burglars with masks like you see in movies are not really the norm.
Consult with your home security provider on whether they can supply lighting that is motion sensitive. This system will cause the lights to flicker on when someone walks up to your home. This will ward off thieves and make you feel safe when you come home.
Search for a company that offers more than just installing a home security system. A great home security company will visit your home and make recommendations that can help to keep your family safe. You might need to modify your landscaping, install deadbolts or upgrade your windows. If they truly offer you great advice, they’re worth hiring.
TIP! Search for a company that offers more than just installing a home security system. For example, the best home security companies offer a home inspection to design your system and give you and your family excellent safety suggestions.
A sliding glass door often presents a big challenge to home security. By simply lifting the door and shaking it, it can be easily unlocked. If you do not have a security system hooked up to them, cut a length of pipe to fit in the door channel. This will help keep the door tightly closed and make it hard to open.
Instead of just including outdoor lighting, why not install lighting that uses infrared detection? When any living thing approaches your home, the light will turn on, informing you that someone or something is near your home. This will deter most burglars. They will be spotted, and they’ll surely run out of there.
TIP! Consider installing infrared detection lights. They turn on when there is motion nearby.
Now after taking in the above information you should have some great tips to begin securing your home. Do not waste time and allow these ideas to slip away. They can be a springboard and allow you to build on them and secure your home. When you know your home is more secure, you will sleep better.
Do not place valuable items in plain view of your exterior windows. If robbers see that there is nothing in the window, they may pass your home.
TIP! Make sure any valuables cannot be seen through a window. This includes items such as electronics, paintings, firearms, or anything else of high monetary value.